Chapter 7

Rose

When we get to the dining area, it's not at all what I expect, not that I really even knew what to expect. But it certainly wasn't this room that looks like a banquet hall you would rent, complete with a soda fountain, multiple coffee machines, and a hot buffet that looks like it belongs in a restaurant. Raechel meets us near the front of the room. "Isn't this insane? We are so relocating."

"Somehow, I don't think Max feels the same," Ava says dryly. I look over and see him talking to somebody, but his expression does not look relaxed.

"He doesn't look very happy," I observe.

Raechel waves her hand. "That's his regular look. Come on. You have got to try this food; it's amazing."

I do manage to eat a little bit. The food really is good, but I just can't stomach it right now. "How are you feeling about being here?" Raechel asks after we've finished eating.

I glance at Ava, but she's totally disengaged. "It's okay," I finally say.

Raechel turns her head a moment and then looks back at us. "I think we're going to have to head back tonight."

My eyes widen in surprise. "Really? Already?"

"Yeah, Max and Blaine got called back for something."

When she doesn't say anything more, I ask the obvious. "What?"

She looks away for a moment, and I know she's communicating with Max. I've seen it enough. "I'm not really sure. Garrett didn't give him a lot of information." She shrugs.

"Won't you be tired?" I can't help but ask.

She shrugs again. "It's not like we're flying the plane. As long as the pilot isn't tired, we're good."

Disappointment flares through me that they're leaving so soon, but I knew this was coming. I just didn't know it would be this soon. I do my best to keep my voice even. "Thanks for coming with us."

"Of course. I've always wanted to visit Orlando; now I can say I have," she says with a smile. "Are you going to be okay here?" I swallow and nod, unsure if my voice will work. She turns to Ava. "Are you staying or coming back with us?"

Ava rolls her eyes. "I came didn't I?"

Raechel looks at me. "I guess that means she's staying." We share a smile before Raechel leans forward. "Listen, if Maverick gives you any problems, call me. Max and I will get down here, and Max will deal with him. He's been itching to have the chance to go at him." She says all this with a grin.

"I don't know what to do with you sometimes," I tell her honestly.

"Only sometimes?" she grins.

"We gotta go, Angel," Max says, joining us a moment later.

"I expect daily reports," Raechel says to me. "Don't be a martyr; take breaks." She eyes Ava next. "Help." Ava just rolls her eyes. "Protect each other and stay together."

"Yes, Mom," Ava spouts off.

Raechel gives us both a tight squeeze. "I'm so proud of you," she whispers in my ear. With a final squeeze, she steps back. "Call me anytime."

"Let us know if they don't treat you right," Max says in his low voice. "Especially your mate." I glance around quickly to make sure nobody heard him, but nobody's paying us any attention right now. They walk out to the waiting car and load up.

"Thank you," I call out one last time as they pull past us on the large round-about. And then, they're gone and it's just Ava and I. Instant panic threatens to overtake me, and I bite my thumbnail, wondering how in the world this is going to work. Tears prick my eyes, and I fight the urge to curl into a ball and cry.

"Tears? Really?" Ava asks, shaking her head. She goes back inside, leaving me alone. I blink rapidly to stop the tears, but I can't. I hate being alone. I glance back at the huge house, wondering if I can do this. I just want to find a place to belong; that's all I've ever wanted. I turn and stare at the green field in front of the huge shifter house. If I were braver, I would go for a walk and explore the area—maybe find some wildflowers, discover a creek. But I'm not brave. So instead, I turn around and force my feet to carry me inside this huge house that is nothing like a home. Nobody says a word to me as I make my way up the stairs and down the hallways that lead to my room. When I get to my room, I stop outside my door and look at the door next to mine. I debate a moment if I should knock on Ava's door, just so that I don't have to be alone. I quickly nix the idea; she'll probably give me the scornful look she's perfected and ask what's wrong with me. So instead, I slip inside my room and lock the door behind me. I lean against the door for a moment and stare at my apartment. It all feels so surreal. I can't believe I'm in another state, in another pack. It's insane. Wearily, I step away from the door and walk into the bedroom and sit on the bed for a few minutes before I force myself to unpack and take a shower.

When I lay in bed a few hours later, I stare up at the ceiling. I can see clearly because I brought my brightest nightlight with me. I know there's literally no way I'm going to get any sleep tonight. Every sound has me jumping. Every time I hear a door close, laughter in the hallway, thumps I don't recognize...it all keeps me staring at my ceiling wide-eyed. The first thing I'm going to have to do is buy a box fan. I didn't bring mine with because I didn't think I'd be able to fly with it, but I'm seriously regretting that now.

The hours pass slowly, and I feel like my skin is crawling. I consider getting out of bed, but somehow, that seems even scarier. I finally doze off, but it's fitful and doesn't last long. Morning finally comes, and with the sun rising, my fears begin to subside. Normally, this is when I would finally fall into a deep sleep, but I can't today. I have people depending on me, and I don't want to let Alpha Cade down. So as tired as I am, I push my blankets back and make myself get up for the day. I'm slow, but I finally get dressed and ready for the day. I open my door softly and step out, looking up and down the hallway. I walk the few feet over to Ava's room and press my ear against the door. When I don't hear anything, I decide to just let her be. Maybe she had a rough night like I did.

I make my way downstairs to the huge dining room, but I hesitate outside the door. I can't bring myself to go in there. There are too many people. Besides, I don't know where to sit, or who to sit with. My heart rate speeds up. It's like junior high all over again. I turn away. I can't do this. I leave the room behind and start in the direction of the rooms where the sick patients are. When I get to that area, I try to go down the hallway that leads to those rooms, but a man stops me. "Who are you?" he asks with a frown. He so surprises me, I take a step back. "Who are you?" he asks again, stepping towards me.

"I'm-I'm Rose. I'm a-a-," my voice breaks, and I swallow. He takes another step forward, and I retreat. I glance behind me, but I'm all alone. Nobody's coming to save me. I take a shallow breath. "I'm a-a healer."

His face changes. "Oh, why didn't you just say so?" He steps out of the way, and I try to catch my breath and hold my head high as I walk past him, careful to keep my distance from him. I make my way to the room where Maverick is and stop outside the door, trying to work up the courage to go inside. Before I can, one of the doors in the hallway opens, and Alpha Cade steps out, covered head to toe in protective wear. I don't say anything as he walks towards me. When he gets close, his head lifts. "Good morning, Rose. How are you this morning?"

"Fine," I say, flatter than I mean to.

If he seems bothered by my response, he doesn't show it. "Are you ready to work on Maverick?" I nod. "Go ahead and gear up. I'll wait in there for you."

I try to calm my heart as I get ready. I wonder how he is this morning, if my healing made a difference yesterday. I'm anxious to get in there and see for myself. Moments later, I open the door to the sick room and make my way inside. I let my eyes adjust a moment to the dim light of the lantern because the blinds are still closed. I make my way over to the bed and stare down at him. I'm disappointed when I don't immediately notice any signs of improvement. Alpha Cade must see my disappointment because he says, "He breathed a little easier last night."

I process his words, even as I look Maverick over from head to toe, categorically taking everything in. I take a deep breath and prepare to heal him. "You feel okay this morning?" Cade asks me before I start. I startle and look over at him. "You don't feel sick at all?" he asks

"Oh, no. I'm good." I don't know what else to say, so I turn back to Maverick. I take my gloves off and take a deep breath before closing my eyes and letting my healing power rise to the surface. Once my fingers start tingling, I reach out and put my hands on Maverick's stomach. Before I do, the door opens, startling me. I turn and am shocked to see Ava.

Before I can say anything, she gives me a look. "Raechel said not to be a martyr, remember?" Her tone is annoyed, so I don't say anything in response. I focus back on the task at hand—healing Maverick. I blow out a breath and close my eyes before reaching out and touching my hands to his stomach. He instantly jerks, but he doesn't wake up. I focus my healing power and work on sending it where I want it to go. I'm not direct enough with the first wave of healing power, and it dissipates almost immediately. I blow out a breath of frustration and lean over Maverick once again and start the process all over. Again and again, I try with almost no results. A few times it feels like I might be getting somewhere, but I fail time and time again. The only thing that happens is that I just get weaker and weaker while Maverick's breathing gets worse. His body spasms worse than it did yesterday, and I feel like a complete and utter failure.

"You're gonna burn out if you keep going." Ava's voice penetrates the weird sort of fog I'm in, and it takes me a minute to register what she's saying.

I turn and face her. "It's not working."

"Yeah. Got that."

Her snide comments slide right off my back; she's the least of my worries. "I'm sorry, Alpha Cade," I tell him without looking him in the eye. "I don't know why it's not working."

"It's okay," he says in a not unkind way, but it still hurts because I hear the frustration beneath it. I know he needs this to work, to save his pack. But I just don't know how to do it. I don't look him in the eye as I make my way out to the hallway and begin to take off all my protective gear.

I go through this process six more times over the next few days with absolutely no success. And then, before the seventh try, I get word from Paul that he's found something.